Declining since 2011, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Taraji since 2002
Babies named Taraji per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 414 |
| 2010s | 2,119 |
| 2020s | 231 |
Meaning & origin
Taraji is a rare modern name that first entered U.S. birth records in 2002. Its meaning is often associated with hope or expectation, likely from Swahili or Arabic roots, though the exact derivation is debated. The name reached its peak popularity in 2010, but has since seen a gradual decline; by 2025 it ranked approximately 7,491 with a 1 in 114,805 incidence. Taraji has experienced a falling trajectory since 2011. No top states were recorded for this name in the most recent data.
Taraji is a modern name that first appeared in U.S. records in 2002. It may derive from the Swahili word 'taraji' meaning 'hope' or 'expectation', or from the Arabic name Taraji (تراجي), a feminine form of Taraj which carries similar hopeful connotations. Given the name's recent emergence and multiple possible linguistic roots, its exact origin remains uncertain.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tara, Raji
Variants: Taraje
Sibling names for Taraji
Names that share Taraji's style, for a brother or sister.
